OAKLAND, Calif. – Bailey Sparks scored a second-half equalizer as FC Tulsa rallied for a 1-1 draw against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum but the visitors were unable to take full advantage after playing the entire second half up a man after Roots were reduced to 10 players late in the first half.
Roots grabbed an early lead when Wolfgang Prentice got onto a long ball forward by Michael Edwards and sent home a looping header from close to the penalty spot in just the fourth minute. Oakland’s Peter Wilson had a chance to double the lead for the hosts in the 20th minute but shot wide of the right post after being put in one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The game turned in Tulsa’s favor in first-half stoppage time, however, as Neveal Hackshaw was sent off for Roots, reducing the side to 10 players. Harvey St Clair had an effort saved by Oakland’s Raphael Spiegel off the ensuing free kick before the visitors turned up the pressure in the second half. Both Jeorgio Kocevski and Stefan Lukic hit the woodwork inside the opening eight minutes after the break before Kalil ElMedkhar had a header saved, but with 20 minutes to go Sparks headed home from close range off a cross from the right by Owen Damm to level.
Having leveled, Tulsa pushed for a winner late and both Remi Cabral and Stefan Lukic had chances denied by Spiegel. Despite the Scissortails’ pressure, Oakland was able to hold on and earn a point as the visitors were unable to make their late opportunities pay off.
Takeaways
Oakland Roots SC – The hosts looked in control of the game after taking an early lead on Wolfgang Prentice’s fourth goal of the season until Neveal Hackshaw’s red card in first-half stoppage time made things far more challenging. Making his return to action after his one-game suspension, though, Raphael Spiegel redeemed himself with a seven-save performance that helped Roots preserve a point despite being outshot 15-3 in the second half.
FC Tulsa – The Scissortails were able to rally for a point but could feel they left points on the table after a dominant second half display against the 10-man Roots. Tulsa’s two shots off the woodwork after the break were among the near-misses that left the defending Western Conference title-holders with their third draw in six games this season and on a three-game winless streak.